Miami landed one of the best available players in the transfer portal Saturday in former Oregon State 1,000-yard rusher Damien Martinez.
The 6-foot-2, 232-pound back from Texas, who won the Pac-12’s Offensive Freshman of the Year award in 2022, ran for 1,185 yards and nine touchdowns last season as a sophomore. Martinez visited Arizona and Mississippi State before making a trip to Coral Gables on Thursday.
It’s on! 305 it’s that time 🫡 pic.twitter.com/SKJMGPZBsf
— damien martinez🔸 (@damienfor6) April 27, 2024
Miami has five scholarship running backs on the roster, but sophomore Mark Fletcher (514 rushing yards in 2023) and redshirt sophomore Ajay Allen (361 yards) — the two most experienced backs on the team — missed the spring recovering from injury.
Martinez gives coach Cristobal a true No. 1 running back to pair with quarterback Cam Ward, who left Washington State after throwing for 3,735 yards and 25 touchdowns, entered the NFL Draft and then decided to return to college for one more season in Miami.
The Hurricanes welcome back two of the best receivers in the ACC in Xavier Restrepo (85 catches, 1,092 yards in 2023) and Jacolby George (57 catches, 864 yards) and three of their five starters on the offensive line.
(Photo: Ali Gradischer / Getty Images)
